Pool Boys Read Free Page B

Crystals!”
    “Because of what?” Caleb prodded.
    “Because Ethan said the three of us are like a street gang,” Charlotte replied, mostly because it was the first thing that came to mind.
    “You’re a lousy liar, Charlotte von Klaus,” Caleb said with a laugh.
    “He did say that!” she insisted, trying not to smile. “What? You don’t believe me? Ask him.”
    “No, I believe you. And I agree. I’d say you three are exactly like a street gang. Except, you know, that you’re socialites from Connecticut who spend all your time at the country club. That’s the only difference.”
    “Is that what you really think of us?” She stopped kicking and stood, rubbing her wet arms. She wasn’t sure why, but Caleb’s jab had struck a chord inside her.
    “Actually, no, I think that’s what everyone else here thinks of you,” he said, withdrawing his feet from the water. He made air quotes. “‘Brooke, Georgia, and Charlotte,’” he proclaimed in a deep voice. “‘The Princess, the Jock, and the Clown.’”
    “Oh, God,” Charlotte murmured, aghast. “That’s even worse! Who thinks that?”
    “Nobody. I’m kidding. If anything, you’re the princess.” He stuck his big toe in the water and splashed her playfully. “Look, I should run. I have to escape before my parents get here. Are you gonna be around later?”
    Charlotte nodded. She shivered and stared at the sunlight sparkling off the tiny pool waves.
    “Hey, are you all right?” Caleb asked. “I was just messing around.”
    “I know, I know.” She pushed back into the water. “I’m just in a weird mood. I guess we all are. End of school and everything. And in August we’re getting officially inducted into Silver Oaks, and all that crap.” Silver Oaks policy dictated that when members’ kids turned eighteen—as Charlotte, Caleb, Brooke, and Georgia had—they were inducted as official members of the Club, complete with a glam, glitzy ball and freakishly stuffy “ceremony.”
    “Yeah, well, welcome to my world,” Caleb said wryly. “The world of weird moods.” He sighed and turned, disappearing into the pool cabana.
    Charlotte watched him go. What was she so upset about, anyway? And why should she care what anybody said about her and her friends, or, least of all, care about Caleb Ramsey?
    Maybe because she was scared that this summer was going to be more of the same old, same old. More hanging out by the pool. More of the same old banter with thesame old pool boys: Caleb, and Ethan, and Robby Miller—a recent Old Fairfield Country Day graduate—arrogant and in training to be a frat boy this fall. And Robby’s fratty friends, Mike and Johnny and Billy, who were all pretty much interchangeable, and were also headed off to college at the end of the summer.
    So maybe it was time to mix things up a little. Maybe somebody just had to make the first move.
    Charlotte leaped out of the pool and marched right over to Marcus and Valerie, dripping water on the flagstones.
    “Hi, again!” she said. “You’re Valerie, right? Great to meet you.” She extended a wet hand. “I’m Charlotte von Klaus. C for short. Welcome to Silver Oaks.”

Chapter Three
Nice
    It was déjà vu. Georgia Palmer could still anticipate Ethan’s every move out on the tennis court. After fifteen minutes, she’d already fallen into the same comfortable rhythm: start slowly with a couple of easy volleys, then drag him from side to side with a few lobs until he was frantically dashing across the baseline—then WHAM! Rush the net and slam when he was least expecting it. He hadn’t won a single point yet. Just like last summer.
    “Are you sure you want to keep playing?” Georgia called.
    “Yeah, yeah. Absolutely!” Ethan panted, wiping his sweaty forehead.
    Oh, Ethan , Georgia thought. She bounced the ball, trying to appear calm and casual, like it was any old game with any old guy—not the first game she’d played with her ex-boyfriend since he’d dumped her